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4 | 22ND - 28TH APRIL 2016 | UTILITY WEEK National Grid: summer demand to drop National Grid has said it may have to curtail wind generation over the summer to balance the system, with electricity demand forecast to fall to its lowest levels on record. 35.7GW Peak summer demand forecasted by National Grid. 2% Decrease since last year. 37.5GW Peak summer demand last year. 18.1GW Minimum summer demand forecasted. 23.5GW Daytime minimum demand forecasted. STORY BY NUMBERS Ofgem rejects DNO calls to license energy storage Seven days... O fgem has ruled out allow- ing network companies to own and operate storage, despite calls from both the National Infrastructure Com- mission (NIC) and the storage industry to incentivise networks to utilise storage . Ofgem said making energy storage a separate licensed activity – another key ask of the industry – was not "the immediate solution", according to its analysis. The regulator said it wanted to see "competi- tive markets develop", and that allowing regulated monopolies into that arena "immediately raises issues". Ofgem associate partner, energy systems, Andy Burgess, told the Energy and Climate Change Committee: "Our prin- ciple is that network compa- nies shouldn't own or operate storage. "We recognise there might be some exceptions to that based on particular circumstances, or particular needs… but I think if you want competitive markets to develop, you need to keep regulated monopolies out of them." The NIC last month called on Ofgem to undertake a ra of regulatory changes to encourage distribution companies to use storage to help the UK become a world leader in the area. Energy storage is currently licensed as a generation asset, which prohibits network compa- nies from owning and operating the technology. Burgess said Ofgem's priority was "making sure storage is a viable option in all the relevant markets". He said an upcoming call for evidence with the Department of Energy and Climate Change would include a question on storage licensing, but that the solution could be a modified generation licence. LD National media Solar cell generates power from rain Solar energy panels that can also generate power from raindrops have been designed, offering a possible solution for UK homeowners looking to invest in renewable energy. The all-weather solar panels that can create electricity from light on sunny days and rain on cloudy days could be the perfect solution for the UK where on average it rains about 42 per cent of the year, equivalent to 33.7in of rainfall. Daily Telegraph, 11 April China pollution: rural water 'undrinkable' More than 80 per cent of rural wells in China's northeast contain water unsafe for drinking, water ministry officials say. But the water ministry officials insisted that the water being supplied to urban areas across the country was still safe. The figures come amid rising concerns for the environment affecting water and air quality, with the government seeking to cut down on pollution. Much of that focus is targeted on the industrial north, which is one of the country's most heavily polluted areas. BBC News, 12 April Michigan extends state of emergency for Flint Michigan lawmakers have extended the state of emergency in Flint for four months, enabling the city to tap more state funds and co-ordinate a response with other authorities to the crisis over lead contamination in the city's drinking water. The legislature matched the time line of the US Federal Emergency Management Agency, which last month extended emergency assistance to Flint through August, from mid-April. Reuters, 13 April "The destruction of competition" Utilita Energy chief executive William Bullen accuses the CMA of causing "irreparable damage to the prepay smart meter market" £10m Dong Energy launches a fund to help local community projects on the east coast of the UK